CHAPTER 1: YOU, THE TEACHER, AS A PERSON IN SOCIETY

Module 2-Formulating Your Philosophy of

Education

INTRODUCTION
Your philosophy of education
is your “window” to the world and
“compass” in life. You surely have
one just as everybody has. Your
philosophy of education is reflected
in your dealings with students,
colleagues, parents and
administrators. Your attitude towards
problems and life as a whole has an
underlying philosophy. You will
articulate your thoughts on how you
perceive the learner, on what are the
right values, on what and on how you must therefore teach.

LEARNING OUTCOMES
By the end of the lesson the students are expected to:

1. articulate own philosophy of education;

2. identify the salient points of own philosophy;
3. relate own philosophy to the philosophies studied previously;
4. reflect on their own philosophy.

LEARNING CONTENT
 Writing a Philosophy of Education
https://writingcenter.ashford.edu/writing-philosophy-education

In deciding to become a teacher, you must ask yourself a critical question: What is
your personal philosophy about your role as a teacher in the educational system? In other
words, what is your teaching philosophy? Applicants for teaching positions are often asked
about their philosophy of teaching during the face-to-face interview, on the application, or
both. Be prepared.

What is a Philosophy of Education/Teaching Philosophy?

In short, your philosophy of education is what you believe to be the purpose of

education. Your teaching philosophy is what you believe is the best way to reach that
purpose, and why.

Your ideas about education and teaching should come from reflecting on your past
experiences with education and the educational theories you have learned in your
education courses. Beliefs, attitudes, values, and experiences influence a person's personal
philosophy of education. Your reflection on the purpose of education and how to reach that
purpose will become your teaching philosophy!

Keep in mind that it is rare to find someone who subscribes "purely" to one orientation or
perspective. Your teaching philosophy will likely borrow from many theories. Moreover,
philosophies are not fixed entities, and yours may change proportionately to how you
change as a person.

What does a philosophy of education contain or include?

● The human person, the learner in particular and the educated person
● What is true and good and therefore must be taught.
● How a learner must be taught in order to come close to the truth
● What is true and good and therefore must be taught.
● How a learner must be taught in order to come cleanse to the truth.

Your teaching philosophy should be 2-3 pages in length and written in first person
and in present tense. It should state your goal of education and several ideas you have
about how to reach that goal. You will want to include examples and descriptions so your
reader can “see” you in your classroom—these may be specific teaching strategies you use,
assignments you integrate, discussions you have with students, or the physical environment
you create.

● Ideally, your first paragraph should include why you feel that education is important
and what you feel is the true goal of education.
● Your body paragraphs will show your reader the way that you teach and why you
teach this way.
● Your conclusion paragraph can do a number of things-- reiterate your passion for
teaching, state how you continue to improve as an educator, or discuss your positive
relationships with your students.

What are tips to writing a Teaching Philosophy?

● Begin by making a list of what you feel education should do—what is the purpose of
education or what are the goals of education? Are there specific educational theories
that you believe in strongly?
● Make another list of teaching methods you feel best help you to reach this purpose.
How do you interact with students? What does your classroom look and feel like?
What kind of assignments do you believe are best? How do you support your
students? How do you assess learning has taken place? What kind of strategies do
you use to teach your specific discipline?
● Jot down two to three specific examples of your teaching methods and describe how
you apply these in the classroom. What does this specifically look like?
● Also, write a justification of how you feel that your particular teaching methods help
your students to reach your chosen goals of education. Why do you feel these are the
best strategies for reaching the ideal education?

Once you have these portions written, go through these and select the teaching methods
and the examples of these that you feel most fully convey your style of teaching. Outline
your draft by determining what you want to share first, second, third, and fourth in your body
paragraphs.

Example :
I believe that every child
● Has a natural interest in learning and is capable of learning
 ● Is an embodied spirit
● Can be influenced but not totally by his/her environment
● Is unique and so comparing a child to other children has no basis

I believe that there are unchanging values in changing times and these must be
passed on to every child by my modeling, value inculcation and value
integration in my lessons.

I believe that my task as a teacher is to facilitate the development of every child

to the optimum and to the maximum by:
● reaching out to all children without bias and prejudice towards the “least”
of the children
● making every child feel good and confident at him her-self through his /her
experiences of success in the classroom
● helping every child master the basic skills of reading communicating in
oral and written form, arithmetic and computer skills
● teaching my subject matter with mastery so that every child will use his
her basic skills to continue acquiring knowledge, skills and values for him
her to go beyond hasie literacy and basic numeracy
● inculcating or integrating the unchanging values of respect, honesty, love
and care for others regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality, appearance
and economie status in my lessons
● consistently practicing these values to serve as model for every child
● strengthening the value formation of every child through
"hands-on-minds-on experiences inside and outside the classroom
● providing every child activities meant to develop the body. the mind and
the spirit

(For other example click the link: https://writingcenter.ashford.edu/writing-philosophy-education)

LEARNING TASKS
Direction: Answer the following learning tasks, print and include it in your portfolio for
this course.

Learning Task # 1: Formulate personal philosophy as a teacher.

Learning Task # 2: Reflection on their own philosophy by answering guide questions:

 1. With that educational philosophy:
● How will you treat your students?
● What will you teach?
● How will you teach?
2. From which philosophies that you have studied and researched did you draw
inspiration as you formulated your own philosophy of education?
3. Does your philosophy of education make a difference in your life?
What if you do not have a formulated philosophy of education at all?
4. Is your educational philosophy more of an abstract theory than a blueprint to
daily living?
5. Do you think your philosophy will change as you grow in knowledge?

LEARNING REFERENCES/RESOURCES
Bilbao, Purita P., Ed.D., et.al. The Teaching Profession. Lorimar Publishing Inc.. 2006.

https://writingcenter.ashford.edu/writing-philosophy-education

Useful Quote:

Philosophy is vital only when the

questions are mine and so is the
struggle toward answers.
- W. Luijpen